222 N. Poinsettia is a lot sale, although we'd take the sensibly sized ranch house (2650 sq. ft.) if the dirt weren't pushing the value so high.

We've mentioned 222 N. Poinsettia a few times previously (most recently in "Hill Happenings"), but we've never seen it post as open, as it is this weekend. Funny, because you don't really need to walk the house to "get" the value here – a double-wide lot with ocean views, despite a location low on the hill.

Drop by and find out what there is to talk about inside a (sadly) doomed home. "These are nice granite countertops – for me to bulldoze away." "A very sweet living room to scrape." "I hate backyard sports courts."

Once priced arbitrarily at $7.9m ("of course you can get $8m!"), this one is now down almost $2m to $5.995m. Open Sun. 1:30-4:30.

218 N. Dianthus (4br/5ba, 5600 sq. ft.) remains "one of the most beautiful homes ever built in Manhattan Beach," if you go for the listing copy.

As it nears a full year on the market, it is also emblematic of the sudden slowdown in new home sales in the Hills. The listing has cut $1.555m (-23%) from its start at $6.750m, now at $5.195m. Open Sun. 2-5pm.

406 Anderson (5br/4ba, 4500 sq. ft.) is a new Cape Cod/"plantation" on a pretty nice street, but one lacking ocean views.

It's a warm family home that is also at the top of the block, with only condos and commercial buildings separating it from Sepulveda.

Offered since mid-Sept., it's down $200k to $3.295m. Open Sun. 1-4pm.511 N. Dianthus (3br/2ba, 1900 sq. ft.) draws our attention every now and then. It's among the least pricey of Hill Section offerings, now at $1.2m after a start at $1.429m last April.

This is about as sweet and clean as you get for an original (1960s) build. Nothing fancy, no monster remodel, but an inspired staging effort plus a surprisingly sweet yard with koi pond are nice assets.

Nearby this week, a bidding war broke out for a comparably sized, but far inferior home at 505 Anderson, which hit the market a dime short of $800k. (Probably sold near $900k.) That one could get scraped, but otherwise needs an expensive reworking. Dianthus may still be high, based on the interest we saw in Anderson, but how high?

A little financing help now offered by the sellers could help to find the right buyer one day this year. 511 N. Dianthus is open Sun. 1-4pm.